I recently spent three days in Waterford and Wexford, two coastal counties that are among the most scenic in Ireland. I was all set for running the Waterford half marathon and cycling the greenway, until an unfortunate fall I had after training in the run up to the race changed my plans. However my trip to the “Sunny South East” helped me to press the reset button and I feel I gained a lot as a result.
I was struck by the theme for this year’s celebration of Day for Life in the Catholic Church “Hope Does Not Disappoint: Finding Meaning in Suffering”. In my life I have learned to embrace emotional suffering and to journey towards finding acceptance, meaning, and healing through it; so that I am at peace with my own personal journey, and guided by it, I can accompany and offer healing and hope to others in their suffering.
Recently I accompanied my mother to an Irish Country Music concert at the Backstage Theatre in Longford. It was a thoroughly enjoyable surprise night out for me with my mum, most of all because I witnessed how much joy my mother got from it, but also because of the uplifting songs that were played, including those with a spiritual dimension which touched my soul.
It is often through the journey of discovery, into searching for the true meaning and purpose of life, that we come to know more intimately our spiritual self and recognise how this is at the core of discovering what it means to be fully alive.
In the busyness of the world in which we live, I believe there is a greater need for stillness and simplicity. It can help us to relax and unwind, connect with God, and ultimately to become better versions of ourselves.